Dry Fly Fishing Mecca!

[Justin Spencer]

The North Fork of the White has an ongoing reputation for not being a good dry fly river. Huge hatches are commonly met with only the occasional riser being seen. The last few weeks on the river have been the exception to this long held belief. Good hatches of primarily brown/tan caddis mixed with some mayflies and other variations of each have been occurring on a daily basis when conditions permit. I have talked to numerous people that had taken advantage of the hatches by catching more fish on dries than I had ever heard of. One man talked of a 20 fish day from one riffle, another of a 50 fish day. While I'm not sure the 50 fish day is totally truthful (surely he was counting takes, not catches) yesterday showed me that big fun can be had on this river when the fish are rising.

Brian Sloss from the eleven point called the other day wanting to fish, we agreed on yesterday and set off from Kelly in the drift boat. I told him to bring a dry fly rod as I had heard reports of success on elk hair caddis. We started out like usual drifting the rubberlegs with a dropper of some sort. It didn't take long and we had several fish in the boat. Then we started to see it. Just above the falls we finally gave in and pulled over and rigged for dries. Brian caught several wading there while I was blanked while trying a black caddis to his tan. After skillfully negotiating the falls we were met with even more risers, and took turns catching and missing fish for the next hour or so. I threw streamers between runs to no avail, and the nymph rigs were put up in favor of drifting dries through the riffles. As the clouds thickened and the wind freshened the fishing got a little tougher, but we still caught fish at or below each riffle, and while most were only in the 12 inch range they were fat and strong. We saw a few bigger fish, including a few browns rising, but couldn't fool any into eating. We ran into one other fishermen on the river who was also beating them up on dries, and then met a guide and two clients from the White River, who came to Sunburst to wade fish the caddis hatch. I guess the word is out but who knows how long it will last. I'm eager to get Amy out in the boat to try her hand at it, from a drift boat dry fly fishing is so much fun as you can often see the fish come off the bottom to swipe at the fly. I hope this ends soon because it is really going to hurt my productivity, especially with white bass, and turkey season just around the corner. Man I got it rough!

[SmallyWally]

Yea. You got it rough brother. We should all have it so bad and thanks for sharing.

[fishinwrench]

I hit it right on the NFOW once during a white caddis hatch and had a blast.

I whipped up an imitation back at the truck consisting of a lime green body w/ a white wing (#14) X-Caddis style, and the fish bought it in a big way.

That's the only time that "whipping up a match" streamside has ever worked out for me anywhere.

I went home and tied about 30 of those, and got back down there as quick as I could (4 days later)..... but it was over when I returned.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't know if it's me or a fact, but it has always seemed to me that trout are picking about size and color of EHC. I have had the rascals turn down a tan body, but eat up and olive body EHC.

Justin you should sell that place, it's too much work. I think McDonalds is hiring. Do they have one in Gainesville?

[Justin Spencer]

They have a subway, that way I could play in the summer too!

[Brian Sloss]

Yesterday was an absolute blast, coming from a river that has even less of a reputation for dry fly fishing. I can't remember the last time I was able to fish dries for what amounted to the whole day! Get after it while it lasts.

[Ham]

I don't know if it's me or a fact, but it has always seemed to me that trout are picking about size and color of EHC. I have had the rascals turn down a tan body, but eat up and olive body EHC.

Justin you should sell that place, it's too much work. I think McDonalds is hiring. Do they have one in Gainesville?

Don't take it personally Wayne, the trout refuse naturals too. I've watched them do it.

[Justin Spencer]

Don't take it personally Wayne, the trout refuse naturals too. I've watched them do it.

It by no means is put a fly in the right spot and catch a fish, you still have to work for them, but keep after it and they will finally take it. Typical NFoW fish.

[Ham]

I really like the NFoW. I'm going to catch less fish, but they seem to be healthier on average and have better color than White River Trout.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I'm going to catch less fish, but they seem to be healthier on average and have better color than White River Trout.

I think Justin and Brian keep their mouths sore.